Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-03-18
A SACRIFICE.


cabin, the winds echoing among the
naked pines. Now and again a fierce
gust whirled up drift, and dashed it, in
scattered flakes, against the unshuttered
pane. Clouds, like birds of evil omen,
were scudding across the winter sky.
Against the base of the mountain the
lights of the little valley town flickered
fitfully intensifying the darkness of the
intermediate mountain trail.
She was glorious creature physically;
wild and untamed as the Sierra wastes
that surrounded her. Darcy Breene's
blue eyes caught warm CLEAN as they
dwelt on her, porting over book and slate
in the light of pine fire. Red Ranch
Bob, glowering from the opposite
corner noted the glance, and clinched
his teeth over curse that was only half
stifled. Darcy's eyes grew perceptibly
warmer as the murmer reached him. 1t
was in the nature of the young fellow to
grow defiant under fire.
Sal closed her book with a sigh and
rose slowly. her splendid figure, in its
plain. dark habit outlined clearly against
the background of ruddy flame.
I'm thinlin' ez how yell need suthin
hot agin ye git down yonder, she said
to Darcy, and took down brown bottle
from the hanging cupboard. loosening
the cork as she handed it to him.
He accepted the bottle from her hand,
smiling into her glowing face as their
fingers met. and replaced it upon the
shelf from which she had taken it.
None tonight, thank YOU he said,
meaninglv. MY heart is too warm as
II ic D,rbn,,c 1-o,, 1-nox.- u-bot hand hoe
already kindled the flame.
The next moment he had hidden her
good night, and was struggling bravely
through the drifts without.
For some minutes after the door had
closed upon him there was silence in the
little cabin. broken only by the heavy
breathing of old Tom Enderly, enjoying
his nightly drunken sleep in the al Join
ing room. Sal, standing dreamily with
folded hands, and happy eyes fixed some
what wistfully on the flames, sighed as
q rough clasp upon her arm recalled her
from her revere. She shuddered invol-
UNFAIRLY as she turned to confront Bill S
resentful sllrly face. 1t was such con-
trast to that delicate face. pale and quiet,
that had Just turned from her to the
stormy night without.
Il want ter know" said Bill, huskily
Il want ter know jest how long this
yers a-gon' ter LAST"
The girl shrugged her shoulders with
feigned indifference.
This yer blizzard? Can't say, I'm
sure. P'r'aps We might tell better-on
tn road hum"
Red Ranch Bills great fist came down
lilo n hopoDoar on tho 1ittla table
"Dern We an yer sass! I'n-In kill
ye!"
She looked up at him unfinchingly,
with scornful. fearless eyes. His face
softened suddenly.
Sal, Sal, he cried pleadingly, "don't
rile me, ''don ye be hard on me-don' t
ye! Quit this yer thing now, whar it be.
Kun ter tn ranch. ter tn ranch ez hez
ben waitin' fur We sense tn night when
ye gev me tn word ez Id lived fur fur
three long year! Me nor tn ranch don't
ak no larnln', Sal We only wants
yersel! -
The girl shrank from his touch, brac-
ing herself against the chimney side
There was conflict coming, and she was
not sure Just how fierce one it might
be. The fire on the hearth was paling
The glow on her face paled with it, and
died out.
Bill, she said, I'm sorry ez how ye
wants me; I'm sorry fur tibet thar word
ez we counts gev We, fur cant hold ter
it, l can't. I'm a-goin ter ak We ter let
me go-ye' don't want a gal ter tn
ranch ez 'ud hate it more n more ev'ry
day an night. Don't hold me ter it.,
Bill fur l can't marry ye-I can't!'
Tears were in her voice, tears were
very near her eyes, but the unwonted
softness of her face was not Of long dura-
ton, for the mans arms were round her,
crushing her in their grasp his fierce
eyes burning her face.
Il AK We one question, he painted.
"Be We tn gal ez I've loved an wanted
til gal ez is fit ter be an honest man S
wife-or be ye Darcy Breene's leavin S
tn woman ez the schoolmaster hez
wronged!"
He read her answer in her steadfast,
unshamed eyes.
80 much tn wlrsen fur him." he
muttered ''Ef he'd owed We aught,
I'd hev let him live to pay it. Now
And before the girl realized chat she
was free he had flung her from him and
was plunging madly down the trail.
she ran to the door, wringing her
hands and sobbing despairingly, as she
vainly called him back.
''Bill, Bill. KUN back. l wuz only
a-foolin' of We! I'll marry ye, Bill-I'l
marry YET
The wild words echoed along the
mountain, and shuddered back to her
borne on the answering wind. For al
instant she yielded to her despair, totter
ing weakly against the open door. Th'
chill SHOWS dashed in her face; an icicle
snapped from the rafters by the wind
fell upon her check, piercing sharply int
the soft flesh. The pain revived her
Quich as thought, she ran to the hearth
falling upon her knees as she threw asid
the rude bearskin rug, and CROPPED aloni
until her hands Jared loosened stone
To lift this, seize the old fashioned purs
that lay beneath and hide it in her bosom
was the work of moment. Then sh